They were among the first to reach the tavern, but they had notbeen there many minutes, when several groups of men who had formedpart of the crowd, came straggling in. Among them were SimonTappertit and Mr Dennis; both of whom, but especially the latter,greeted Barnaby with the utmost warmth, and paid him manycompliments on the prowess he had shown.
"Which," said Dennis, with an oath, as he rested his bludgeon in acorner with his hat upon it, and took his seat at the same tablewith them, "it does me good to think of. There was a opportunity!
But it led to nothing. For my part, I don"t know what would.
There"s no spirit among the people in these here times. Bringsomething to eat and drink here. I"m disgusted with humanity."
"On what account?" asked Mr Tappertit, who had been quenching hisfiery face in a half-gallon can. "Don"t you consider this a goodbeginning, mister?"
"Give me security that it an"t a ending," rejoined the hangman.
"When that soldier went down, we might have made London ours; butno;--we stand, and gape, and look on--the justice (I wish he hadhad a bullet in each eye, as he would have had, if we"d gone towork my way) says, "My lads, if you"ll give me your word todisperse, I"ll order off the military," our people sets up ahurrah, throws up the game with the winning cards in their hands,and skulks away like a pack of tame curs as they are. Ah," saidthe hangman, in a tone of deep disgust, "it makes me blush for myfeller creeturs. I wish I had been born a ox, I do!"
"You"d have been quite as agreeable a character if you had been, Ithink," returned Simon Tappertit, going out in a lofty manner.
"Don"t be too sure of that," rejoined the hangman, calling afterhim; "if I was a horned animal at the present moment, with thesmallest grain of sense, I"d toss every man in this company,excepting them two," meaning Hugh and Barnaby, "for his manner ofconducting himself this day."
With which mournful review of their proceedings, Mr Dennis soughtconsolation in cold boiled beef and beer; but without at allrelaxing the grim and dissatisfied expression of his face, thegloom of which was rather deepened than dissipated by theirgrateful influence.
The company who were thus libelled might have retaliated by strongwords, if not by blows, but they were dispirited and worn out. Thegreater part of them had fasted since morning; all had sufferedextremely from the excessive heat; and between the day"s shouting,exertion, and excitement, many had quite lost their voices, and somuch of their strength that they could hardly stand. Then theywere uncertain what to do next, fearful of the consequences of whatthey had done already, and sensible that after all they had carriedno point, but had indeed left matters worse than they had foundthem. Of those who had come to The Boot, many dropped off withinan hour; such of them as were really honest and sincere, never,after the morning"s experience, to return, or to hold anycommunication with their late companions. Others remained but torefresh themselves, and then went home desponding; others who hadtheretofore been regular in their attendance, avoided the placealtogether. The half-dozen prisoners whom the Guards had taken,were magnified by report into half-a-hundred at least; and theirfriends, being faint and sober, so slackened in their energy, andso drooped beneath these dispiriting influences, that by eighto"clock in the evening, Dennis, Hugh, and Barnaby, were left alone.
Even they were fast asleep upon the benches, when Gashford"sentrance roused them.
"Oh! you ARE here then?" said the Secretary. "Dear me!"
"Why, where should we be, Muster Gashford!" Dennis rejoined as herose into a sitting posture.
"Oh nowhere, nowhere," he returned with excessive mildness. "Thestreets are filled with blue cockades. I rather thought you mighthave been among them. I am glad you are not."
"You have orders for us, master, then?" said Hugh.
"Oh dear, no. Not I. No orders, my good fellow. What ordersshould I have? You are not in my service."
"Muster Gashford," remonstrated Dennis, "we belong to the cause,don"t we?"
"The cause!" repeated the secretary, looking at him in a sort ofabstraction. "There is no cause. The cause is lost."
"Lost!"
"Oh yes. You have heard, I suppose? The petition is rejected by ahundred and ninety-two, to six. It"s quite final. We might havespared ourselves some trouble. That, and my lord"s vexation, arethe only circumstances I regret. I am quite satisfied in all otherrespects."
As he said this, he took a penknife from his pocket, and puttinghis hat upon his knee, began to busy himself in ripping off theblue cockade which he had worn all day; at the same time humming apsalm tune which had been very popular in the morning, and dwellingon it with a gentle regret.
His two adherents looked at each other, and at him, as if theywere at a loss how to pursue the subject. At length Hugh, aftersome elbowing and winking between himself and Mr Dennis, venturedto stay his hand, and to ask him why he meddled with that riband inhis hat.
"Because," said the secretary, looking up with something between asnarl and a smile; "because to sit still and wear it, or to fallasleep and wear it, is a mockery. That"s all, friend."
"What would you have us do, master!" cried Hugh.
"Nothing," returned Gashford, shrugging his shoulders, "nothing.
When my lord was reproached and threatened for standing by you, I,as a prudent man, would have had you do nothing. When the soldierswere trampling you under their horses" feet, I would have had youdo nothing. When one of them was struck down by a daring hand, andI saw confusion and dismay in all their faces, I would have had youdo nothing--just what you did, in short. This is the young man whohad so little prudence and so much boldness. Ah! I am sorry for him."
"Sorry, master!" cried Hugh.
"Sorry, Muster Gashford!" echoed Dennis.
"In case there should be a proclamation out to-morrow, offeringfive hundred pounds, or some such trifle, for his apprehension; andin case it should include another man who dropped into the lobbyfrom the stairs above," said Gashford, coldly; "still, do nothing."
"Fire and fury, master!" cried Hugh, starting up. "What have wedone, that you should talk to us like this!"